NCJ Number
53987
Date Published
1978
Length
32 pages
Annotation
POLICE BODY ARMOR IS TESTED AT THE EQUIPMENT CENTER IN GAITHERSBURG, MD., AND RESULTS ARE REPORTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (IACP).
Abstract
THIS IS THE FIRST OF MANY CONSUMER PRODUCT REPORTS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT EQUIPMENT ISSUED AS A GUIDE FOR QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, AND ECONOMY. THE CONSUMER GUIDE IS INTENDED FOR POLICE ADMINISTRATORS AND OFFICERS WHO ARE CONTEMPLATING PURCHASE OF BODY ARMOR. AS RETESTING OF GARMENTS IS PERFORMED, THE NEW RESULTS WILL BE PUBLISHED. TESTING IS FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE OF LEAA AND IS CONDUCTED AT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS LABORATORY AT THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS IN GAITHERSBURG, MD. INFORMATION AS TO THE TEST CENTER ITSELF, ITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THE TESTING PROGRAM, ALONG WITH A CHART OF THE PROGRAM, IS GIVEN IN THIS REPORT. SOFT BODY ARMOR WAS DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO THE ALARMING INCREASE IN ASSAULTS, SERIOUS INJURIES, AND DEATHS INFLICTED ON LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ON DUTY. MANY ASSAULTS OCCUR IN FAMILY QUARREL INTERVENTION. THE BODY ARMOR TESTING PROJECT BEGAN IN 1976 WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERFORMANCE CRITERIA BY THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, AND TESTS WERE PERFORMED BY THE H.P. WHITE LABORATORY IN MARYLAND AND THE DENVER RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN COLORADO USING WEAPONS SUCH AS 0.38 CALIBER OR OTHER SMALLER WEAPONS COMMONLY USED AGAINST POLICE. EACH GARMENT, TESTED UNDER STRICTLY CONTROLLED CONDITIONS, WAS PLACED ON A CLAY BLOCK, OF A MEASURED CONSISTENCY AND TEMPERATURE, AND FIRED UPON FIVE TIMES FROM A PRESCRIBED DISTANCE. FIRING WAS STOPPED ANY TIME PENETRATION OR EXCESSIVE DEFORMATION OCCURED. FIVE LEVELS OF THREAT DELINEATED INCLUDE THE 0.22 CALIBER AND 0.38 CALIBER LOW VELOCITY 9 MILLIMETERS AND 0.357 MAGNUM, HIGH VELOCITY 9 MILLIMETERS AND 0.357 MAGNUM, 7.6 MILLIMETERS 0.308 WINCHESTER, AND 30.06 ARMOR PIERCING. TESTS WERE ALSO CONDUCTED ON WET GARMENTS FOR CONDITIONS THAT WOULD OCCUR WITH NORMAL WEAR. THE TESTING PROCEDURE IS OUTLINED IN CHART FORM WITH ARMOR TYPE GIVEN ALONG WITH TEST VARIABLES AND PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS. TEST RESULTS ARE GIVEN IN DETAIL, NOTING MANUFACTURER, MODEL, THREAT LEVEL, COMPLIANCE, AND NONCOMPLIANCE DATA. OTHER DATA PROVIDED INCLUDE THE IACP NUMBER, THE TEST LABORATORY, THE DEGREE OF PENETRATION, THE MUZZLE VELOCITY, THE SHOT SEQUENCE, THE BALLISTIC MATERIAL IN THE VEST, AND PURCHASING ADVICE. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ALSO MADE FOR UPGRADING EQUIPMENT. A SUPPLEMENT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL BALLISTIC TEST DATA FOR JANUARY 1979.